tennis glossary
Tennis Terms Glossary
A tennis glossary covering 20 essential terms — what they mean, when they come up, and how Volley handles them automatically. Click any term below for the full definition.
Why a tennis glossary matters
Every sport has its own vocabulary, and tennis is no exception. The terms here range from the obvious (serve, let, point) to the obscure (the sport-specific shots and rules that only matter once you've been playing for a while).
If you're new to tennis, this glossary is a starting point. Learn the basics first; the obscure terms become useful as you start watching higher-level matches and want to understand the commentary.
Tennis scoring with Volley
Volley scores tennis with every standard rule built in. The terms in this glossary are all handled automatically when you score a match in the app — you don't have to track them manually.
Free on iOS and Android. Multi-sport scoring across 9 sports.
Frequently asked questions
How many tennis terms should I know?
If you're a regular recreational player, the 20 terms in this glossary cover everything you'll encounter in normal play. The technical jargon (specific shot names, advanced strategy terms) is for higher-level players and commentary.
Where do these tennis terms come from?
Most are official tennis terminology used by the sport's governing body. A few are colloquial — terms players use casually that have become standard.
Does Volley have a glossary for other sports?
Yes. Volley publishes glossaries for all 9 supported sports: tennis, padel, pickleball, table tennis, badminton, squash, racquetball, pickup basketball, and volleyball. Each glossary has 20 terms with definitions and examples.